There are many things that you can do to help people with dementia in their own homes. Keeping the outside of the person with dementia’s home the same over time can be really helpful to them and help them recognise their own environment.
Maintaining the colour of the front door and looking after any trees or plants, so that they do not change substantially, can help the person recognise that they are coming home when they have been to any appointments or supported to go shopping for example. A large door number can be helpful and it is useful to repeat the address as you arrive at the house.
There are some other simple things you can do to make going out or coming home as easy as possible for a person with dementia.
Keep the hallway uncluttered so it is easy to get in and out of the front door and there are not things lying around that could be tripped over.
It is useful to have a clear easy to read clock in a visible place and refer to the time often. If you will be visiting again then clearly say what time and also what time of day. People with dementia can begin to get very confused in the evenings when it gets dark so referring to the time of day often can help them to understand.